Paula Deen grew up in Georgia. In the ’50s. Her world was the one depicted in The Help, in which black people’s status as lesser beings was casually assumed. So, who is really surprised that she has used the N word in her life? It would be downright strange if she hadn’t, and we can assume the same of pretty much any white Southerner of a certain age (not to mention more than a few Americans of other regions).

And yet the Food Network has fired her after revelations that Deen has been a normal person of her time and place, even though she has leveled no fewer than three public apologies. The reason is the unique status of the N word.

In modern America, we really have only a few genuinely profane words, and the N word is one of them. Sure, we call a certain suite of four-letter words profanity, and they once were. However, they are now used so freely by most that they qualify more as salty. A Martian, hearing our “bad words” decorating our hit songs, tossed off in movies, used in a hit parody children’s book like Go the F–k to Sleep, and sprinkled into ordinary conversation, would never even think to describe these words as “bad.”

Yet we do have words we treat as truly unthinkable. They are no longer about excretion or sexual intercourse or religion, but about disrespecting groups of people. One begins with F; another begins with C.

The third is the N word. Even the sassiest comedy shows refrain from tossing it around. We shudder at the thought of our children using it. And we regularly watch celebrities treated as if they were lepers for saying it — comedian Michael Richards in 2006 — or even saying it to refer to it, like Laura Schlessinger in 2010.

This taboo status, then, is why Deen is being fired for what her fans are decrying as “just using a word,” and also why Deen in her videos steps around even saying what she said. Yet this restraint on her part is also an indication that she, like most Americans, has gotten the message. Crucially, getting the message doesn’t mean becoming superhuman. Changing times cannot utterly expunge all traces in her of the old South’s assumptions. Old habits of thought linger, like eczema and asthma.

So yes, she just might pop out with the N word in private in a heated moment. And yes, a certain part of her will see something vaguely nostalgic in the sight of black men as waiters. In this, she represents a transitional stage between the then and the now. Deen was already a 20-something when the old racist order broke down; her worldview had pretty much jelled. How could she have a perfectly egalitarian take on race growing up when and where she did?

People of Deen’s generation can neither change the past nor completely escape their roots in it, any more than the rest of us. They can apologize and mean it, as Deen seems to. They also deserve credit for owning up to past sins, as Deen did candidly when she could easily have, shall we say, whitewashed the matter.

The taboo on the N word, and associated attitudes, is appropriate. It’s certainly smarter than the goofiness of the 1800s when the terms white and dark meat emerged to avoid the possible sexual connotations of referring to breasts and thighs. However, we’re less smart when we turn taboo enforcement into implacable witch hunting, which is not thought but sport.

John McWhorter is an associate professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University and the author of What Language Is (and What It Isn't and What It Could Be). The views expressed are solely his own.

John McWhorter is the author of several books, including What Language Is (and What It Isn't and What It Could Be).

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They have to fire her consider who the people are , that are sitting home and ordering off the TV all day long

What I do not know is why is this front page news all over the country when we have so many unanswered questions about Benghazi and the IRS scandal and where is the talk about how the NSA violated every one in this countries rights that has been confirmed thanks to Snowden How does what this lady said 20 years ago take precedence over these much more important issues.

I have had many racial slurs directed at me. So what? I don't care. What is that saying." Sticks and stones may...." or perhaps this one, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent". ~Eleanor Roosevelt . I am not racist and I believe people that "truly" are need to get their thinking into perspective..I do not see Paula as a racist. To control every mood , thought and every word is difficult. As a "species" we are remarkable but not perfect....The n word will always be around a fact I wished i could change. However I cannot..... I cannot support this network any longer. If everyone's job depended on whether or not they had said something inappropriate.....well, no one would be employed.....admit it or not everyone is guilty! Give Paula her job back! ..........peace to the "African/American community"- be mindful of what I am saying thank you

In hindsight, Paula Deen should have lied - even under oath. Who could challenge her if she has said, "Never did? " Answer: the phony, sanctimonious clowns who are calling for her blood, and why should anyone believe them.

As does everyone, I have some facts that I can honestly state as I was listening during many conversations. Some were Black Person to Black Person, others were Black Person to White Person and White Person to Black Person. I too, grew up in the early 60's and was taught by my dear parents to 'love everyone, be kind to everyone, and to respect everyone'. I might add that I feel as though I have lived my life as a good person, who has helped anyone in need, without any discrimination due to the color of someone's skin.

I have been in the same room and have heard Black men speaking to other Black men, and they used the 'N' Word, in and out of the conversation. I have also heard them refer to each other by using the 'N' word. We were raised in a city in the Midwest. My Mother was raised in New York City and my Father (the Marine and the less 'liberal' of the two was raised in Virginia). Both my Mother and Father were World War II generation. The 'N' word was, at that time, not a 'hot button issue' as it seems to be in our society. Another offensive word that I found was when White people called Black people 'colored people' or 'people of color'. Speaking for what I believe to be 'many like me' these different 'names' were perfectly acceptable, and the White people that I speak of followed the correct names that were changed and given to what I think now are considered proper to say 'African American' or 'Jamaican American' of 'whatever Country' that anyone that is Black and is now living in America wish to be called '_____name of Country space American'.

Since I was a small child, I have heard the 'N' word used by both Blacks and Caucasians, both men and women not intending to speak 'down' to anyone. It was what the word that was being used 'at the time' was then spoken. So, we went from the 'N' word, then changed that to 'Colored People' and then it has been changed to Blacks (in general) and now I understand that to socially correct we are now to remember to call them 'African Americans' if they are from Africa, however, those that I have known or worked with were born in America, which is the greatest Country and Society in the World. Neither I, nor my sister, and never did my parents use the 'N' word. I do not think it was by choice, but honestly, we did not sit around the dinner table and have any need to call 'any' group of people any 'particular name'. We had our lawn maintenance done by Mr. Mimms. My father kept Mimms employed for most of his life. I had a 'nursemaid' that was what they were called back when I was young, and her name was 'Alma'. I loved her very much. But my point is, Alma was her name and that is what we said when we spoke of her. My sister had a nursemaid named 'Minny'. There were only the four of us in the family, but when we went out of town and knew we would be passing through St. Louis, where Minny lived, my Father always made a point to stop and visit Minny and her husband, and my Father never forgot Minny's favorite perfume and he would purchase it himself, for her because we all loved her so much.

If any 'African-American' or 'Black' person, could place their hand on the Bible then state that they would never lie, on their 'mother's grave, thus stating the following: "Yes", in my lifetime I may have spoken of people of the Caucasian Race in a derogatory manner at least once in their lives, I would believe them.

I heartily believe that Paula Deen, who is from the deep South used the 'N' word while speaking with someone or during a discussion, then I would believe it. As I mentioned, my Father was from Virginia, he had one brother and four sisters. I remember growing up and hearing them all, during a conversation about 'when they all were kids' and the 'N' word was spoken and bantered around, not in a demeaning fashion in any sort of way, but because 'that word' was what they grew up hearing as did many, many folks no matter what color they are using the same word to describe a girl friend, a post man, a neighbor, or someone that they knew. It was never meant to hurt, demean, disregard, disrespect or belittle anyone.

I believe that we should stop worrying about what group that is slightly different from another group and what the 'proper name is' that is to be used when discussing 'these other groups'. Chinese people are correctly referred as 'Chinese' no matter what color your skin is everyone has eaten in a 'Chinese Restaurant'. I know that East Indian people run one of my favorite East Indian Restaurants, we call them East Indians. I could make these same analogies all night.

My point is simple, "he who has not sinned may through the first rock". I would love to meet someone who is absolutely perfect and further, could we put to rest all of the 'You must call we this now, and you must call me that now.' I happen to be White, but instead of checking a box that states 'White', I am now a 'Caucasian'. Why, I wonder do we put so much EMPHASIS on what to call who, when we could be using that same amount of energy being kind to one another.

I feel sorry for Paula Deen, just as I feel for anyone, no matter what race, creed, color, or handicapped who has been hurt by what someone has said. I apologize for myself, if I ever did such a thing, and further, I too have felt the 'sting' of a joke made at my expense because I am 'handicapped' and the words 'crippled' or 'old person' or 'Hey, Grand Ma!' are terms that are said by younger kids, because the >>>>>>SPEAK AND USE WORDS THAT THEY HAVE MOSTLY HEARD USED AT HOME<<<<<<<<. Be careful what you teach your children.

We are not 'born' to hate. We know nothing of the word 'hatred'. To 'hate' must be 'carefully taught' to youngsters, or that see it at home or school. Again, by using something as simple as a 'wrong word' in today's society (another 'me, me, me' society) where everyone feels as though they are 'entitled to 'something'' as simple as 'seven generations ago, my people were tortured and pillaged and killed'. Guess what, so were my 'people' and just about anyone that was not 'born in America'.

So, could we let Paula off the hook for something that each and everyone of us is guilty of the same crime as she is.?

This comment was intended to 'enlighten' those who read it. It in no way, shape or form is meant to hurt anyone

Is no one taking issue with McWhorter's "who is really surprised that she has used the N word in her
life? It would be downright strange if she hadn’t, and we can assume the
same of pretty much any white Southerner of a certain age..."

As a southerner his assumption shows his prejudice by saying all of us of now in our 60s grew up hearing and saying the word. I did not and neither did the people around me. I'm from a blue collar family and the word was never spoken a single time. I didn't hear it at school, work or play. It just was not uttered. If anyone had said it we would have distanced ourselves from that ignorant, redneck.

So, McWhorter I guess you want us to clearly see how we can assume black men of a certain age just know for sure all of us whites went around saying the N word during a certain era. You are wrong.

I would argue on whether she is sorry. Even after she was hit with the lawsuit, she did an interview where she made more questionable racial comments (October of 2012). If you were sued for discrimination, at that point wouldn't you know better. And let's face it -- Paula knew better but chose to keep the ole south going (it was her schtick anyway). She is a PR nightmare right now and rightfully so. Did you actually watch any of her "apologies?" Being old has nothing to do with it. When she admitted to making the remark 27 years old, that was 1986. Who at that point didn't know that it was offensive to use the n-word? Don't tell me she didn't. Next time do some research before you give people a pass for saying a hateful, vicious word and for her other behavior which is easily found if you would take a moment to look instead of jumping on the poor Paula bandwagon.

I'm ashamed of you, Time magazine. You've jumped on the bandwagon of it being all about the N word. You've pointedly ignored all the crap Paula has done in the last 18 months, and the fact that her ratings were down 25% this year, before this scandal. Go away. You've made yourself irrellevent.

Wow this is ridiculous. This isn't about Paula Deen's feelings. This isn't about second chances. This isn't about the norms of 1950's society. This is about business. What Paula Deen does reflects on the Food Network. And the Food Network is not about that mess.

The Food Channel is all about money - just like every other industry. I like Paula Deen. I do not agree with the decision to have fired her. I think the Food Channel was impulsive and reactive in their decision. But, I wonder how I'd feel if I were black.

When Galiliano was fired by Dior for his anti-Semitic remarks, I was all for that. However, some rushed to his defense and still do. As a Jew, I agreed with and applauded Dior's actions.

When I was NYC school teacher, the black teachers were opposed to having bagels at teacher meetings because they saw it as a Jewish food.

Far toomuchhas been made of this issue. I grew up I the Southern states and although I don't condone it, it is a part of our history. A part that if we forget, weare in danger of repeating. If we condemn Paula for who she was/is, are we not being predjudice ourselves. I plan to support Paula I any wayI can. I need a frying pan...I think I'll buy one of Paula's!

What about the latest charges being leveled in which "Darling" Paula attributes the cancelations of her contracts to the Jews, blaming the Jews for everything? The remarks Paula made were supposed to have been made during an interview with an Atlanta-based interviewer?

The fact that she's old doesn't give her the right to offend/insult people. WHAT A STUPID REMARK-that she should get her job back just because she's old!! This is a country of equal opportunity employment so to say that she should get her job back cause of her age is reverse to what this magnificant country is all about or that she's sorry. So i suppose if murderers in prison say they're sorry they should have their freedom back so they can hurt or kill someone else? Everyone makes mistakes but this is not the 1st time she's done this. Get real!! She's only sorry cause it's going to hurt her bank account!!

Please leave that woman alone. Somebody must have said the N word in their life. I do not say that it is right but she does not deserve everything that is happening to her. I will always like Paula Deen. The best to you Paula. Roxanne

This is what the left wants--exactly this. Keep the divide ever widening. Reagan said freedom was always just a generation away from becoming extinct. When Paul Deen and all of her "generation" are gone, the up and coming socially-engineered skulls full of mush will be there to take our places. Look at Rachel Jeantel, the prosecutions "star witness" in the Zimmerman trail--sad so sad. Such a product and reflection of our school system in this once great country. And the ultimate slap, the election of this insane man as leader of the country. It took 100 years (since Wilson) but the left is getting what they want. How many years of misery and destruction before it changes. God bless you Paula Deen. God give you the strength and courage to come through this in one piece.

I believe that this fiasco has done more to widen the gap in racial tensions than anything in years. More people are upset by the way the so called news media has treated this than anything I have heard of. If the blacks can call the whites CRACKERS, WHITEY, MILKS, RICE KRISPIES, ETC., what is the difference? The white people get persecuted, banned, & totally destroyed for saying they called the blacks names back twenty, thirty, forty or so years ago. That was common then. Let's all remember that this United States was populated by indentured servants sent over from England, so we were all slaves at one time. If this keeps going on, no body will be safe from losing everything they have just because they said something that upset someone. We need to move forward, not back. Give Paula back her job and forgive her. Let's not have another civil war over this .Don't widen the gap, come together in with forgiveness.

I think Food network is crazy. Why not get rid of Alton Brown the sandwich man a lot of older people they do nothing for me and a lot of people. You see Alton all the time does he just sleep there. I love Pioneer Woman she is just down to earth. Im sure 10 years ago someone said the n word and got away with it, but why are you doing this to Paula. I watched all her shows and many reruns. I don't like Ina either. I think its terrible everyone cancelling on her give her a chance they gave Pres. Clinton, and Tiger Woods and plenty more people a chance

I am so sick of so many self righteous people commenting constantly about Paula Deen. I wonder whats in their closet that they would just as soon forget. Paula Deen was raised in a different time than all the "goody two shoes" that are passing judgement. Anyone raised in the early 20th century may have made racial slurs and not thought much of it, but we have come a long way since then and I believe the real racists are the ones passing judgement and the talking heads on tv and radio who spew nothing but hate. Now, I am going out to buy one of that poor womens cook books. Just to show my support!

These businesses don't care about anything but money and they've made a pretty easy financial decision that shows the negative press that would be associated with their brands is a lot more than the financial upside to keep doing business with Paula Deen.

This is beyond comprehension. Paula Deen did nothing illegal. This political correctness has gone wacky. I am a big purchaser of Amazon.com and if they do not sell her pans and do not have her books I will no longer do business with them

You guys are killing me. Paula should be fired for being stupid. Do not damage our brand, or bring controversy to our name, shout big name department stores. This story is about irresponsibility. I'm sorry Okraluvva - I still don't think the author is being sarcastic. He means it when he says she should get her job back. No one cares about what she said years ago and I don't now a Black person who believes white people don't use certain language when they are in private. I certainly don't. The point is don't keep this woman from making a living. Don't make an uncomfortable working environment for her or open yourself up to an opportunistic lawsuit. I don't know enough to tell you what this is. Even if the accuser is a white woman, you have a responsibility to her as an employer.

I am not a fan of hate speech but neither am I a fan of political correctness. When you make a word taboo, you give it power. If a word is too awful for a particular group of people to say, it becomes a very potent word. I am remembering a song from the 60s musical 'Hair' when the racially diverse group of actors joyously sang out every racially taboo word in the lexicon. It deflated those epithets and rendered them meaningless by laughing at them.

When we scapegoat an individual for breaking a taboo, we absolve ourselves of any need to examine our own hearts and minds for the harmful things we may find there, whether conscious or unconscious.... and then have to do something about. The scapegoat is the bad person and by punishing him/her, we think we've taken a big step toward solving the problem. But we haven't. We've just disowned any pocket of culpability in ourselves.

Can't we take this 'scandal' as an opportunity to examine ourselves, grow up a little and become more respectful towards each other? Can't we focus some of this righteous anger towards a present day form of abuse and discrimination... the worldwide sexual trafficking of women and children?

I have been ranting on my FB account and realized only my friends will see my comments. So-here goes on Food Network and lets hope some of the multi-millionaires on the boards of the companies who have dropped her will see this. Just who do you people think you are. I'm a white working class female and I will NEVER watch Food Network again. I will boycott each and every company who terminates their contracts with her. She is caught in a domino effect and we,meaning working class Americans are the only ones who can stop this. Guilt by association-thats what these companies would have us believe. Bull-they are all afraid of losing a single dollar. They want to just throw her under the bus and act as though they never had any association. Hey-I will never meet Paula but I will defend her till this madness stops, and beyond. She said and did nothing that the rest of us didn't do in the 60's and 70's. Was it right-NO. Is what they are doing to Paula right-NO. I would seriously like to find a person who could say (under OATH) that they have never made a racial slur. I won't be able to because if they have to swear under oath and be held to perjury if found out they are lying, they would never agree to it. Lets put all these higher up under oath and ask them if they have ever made a racial slur. UNDER OATH. Who out there can say they have never used the F word and many others. My God, what is America coming to? This political correctness is bringing our country DOWN. Should the N word be used. No. Will it be for many years to come. Yes. Change doesn't happen over night but society is changing. That is until we started having to watch every single word we say. Sometimes we humans slip up, while of course the board members of these corporations don't. HA-HA. I started smoking at 14. Why, because that's what we did in the 60's, our peers were smoking so we did also. Was it right-NO. And it took me many years to break this nasty habit. Should every single person who has ever smoked a cigarette and later in life, had any kid of illness, should the millions and millions of us sue our government?

I am so angry I can't see straight. This country is more divided now than it was 10 years ago. And it's gonna get worse. When you tell the people what they can say and do, we will fight back. Let us make up our own minds about how we feel about PAULA DEEN. I for one would be honored to call her a friend. This isn't about a racial slur-it's about MONEY. And that's their bottom line. Is she a millionaire-sure she is, but she worked her way up from a very hard life to get to where she is today. Look at the children she helps feed and on and on and on. 1000 of us aren't going to make a difference, but a million will make them sit up and think, and many millions will make them realize how we feel about what they are doing..Come on people stand up for her.!!!!!

This is my post on FB today......I agree w the person that said "I will no longer shop at any store(s) or be bothered w "The Food Network". It was fear that made you do what you did, and that CAN'T AND WON'T be respected!!!I am rarely controversial! RARELY!!! But, it sickens me to see people posting horrible things about a woman they do not know.....20-30 yrs ago, she admitted to saying the "N" word! I am 51 yrs old & grew up in Los Angeles....the 60's/70's....I went to a school where blacks were bussed in to our schools from Compton, Carson AND Watts! (Look it up!) and, we "the whites" were bussed out! It was a confusing time, where the tide was turning & rightfully so!!! But, how dare any one on my page crucify someone for their PAST, when it wasn't as polically incorrect as it is now, thankfully! I guess I will watch for YOUR misgivings and mistakes as we all grow & learn in this beautiful life! That is what I believe we are doing on this earth.....to become better! Hopefully, I do not come at you when you are 50-60 yrs old & remember what you did in your teens, 20 & beyond! HANG ON....it's a bumpy ride! AND PS, the "blacks" AND "whites" in our 60% black school ALL said N-----! So, DON'T shop w me, DON'T eat lunch w me or, God For Bid, DON'T eat at my house!!! I have said it! I won't even start w the patch that my brother had sewn on his jeans....It truly was a different time & you, that have such strong opinions, are NO different to me, that can judge someone you don't know, until all the facts are in and be so spiteful! I would happily be Paula Deen's best friend before you!!!

Eugene Thomas King is the former bank robber who Paula Deen says she referred to using the N-word after he robbed her at gunpoint.

King was caught and sentenced to 25 years in prison after the Deen robbery and a separate robbery. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, now and when we spoke to him, he actually broke down in tears. He blames himself for Paula Deen's troubles.

"I really feel for her," King said. "She's being persecuted because of that one little mistake in her judgment. She was acting out of anger."

King had 13 prior convictions for robbery before he pointed a gun at Paula Deen. He says he's turned his life around.

He feels responsible for Paula's demise.

"I regret that I pointed a gun at her," King said. "I wish there was a way to take it back."

At the time of the robbery in 1987, King apologized to Paula in his statement to police.

He wrote, "Please tell her I'm sorry, but I never intended to hurt anyone."

I will no longer shop at any of the places that fired Paula Deen. Black people say it. It's just a word. It only has meaning when people choose to be victims at every turn. I repeat it's just a word.Love you Paula.

This shouldn't even be an issue, what happened to Paula Deen's freedom of speech? I thought we still had that in America. All of the blacks making death threats on Twitter over the George Zimmerman trial are saying things a million times worse than anything Paula Deen might have said, and they're not losing their jobs (if they even work at all).

@billreed34 Hey, yeah~ I seem to remember our President Clinton lying to all of the American People, and he did not discriminate by race, creed, color, or handicapped status, he lied to ALL of us. If Bill Clinton can lie, then Paula Deen could lie too. In fact, here is an idea; she could say that she had made an error in her memory, and she could state that she now remembers that she never said the 'N' word! Yeah, that's the ticket!

@MadelineBorgasanoMarino Did you read the lawsuit? It's alleged that Paula Deen participated in and allowed a discriminatory culture to exist at at least one of the restaurant's she owns..

It's illegal to sexually harass employees or make one group of employee's use certain restrooms and entrances and not others...

Pretty sure the author of this article is under the impression that all Paula and brother did was use the N-word 20 years ago but the lawsuit details more discriminatory conduct that's recent and way worse than a racial slur..

@MarcAtkins The lawsuit is about sexual harassment, racial and gender discrimination and creating a hostile workplace. When the Plaintiff quit her job, she was blackballed in Savannah and could not get a job there and had to relocate. Read the lawsuit then comment.

@marygb3 I don't' think it was just the slur, it was the desire to experience the plantation lifestyle. Check out the transcript. That can't possibly be ok. Why would anyone want to experience a time when human's were/are devalued? Sure, people slip up, but one thing is to slip and make a stupid comment/jokes and another is to want to re-live the experience this country is trying to lay to rest. Not to sidetrack but the devaluation of human life continues today with people of different ethnicities and it is just not right. That's all. I feel bad for her as I understand how she may have grown up in a time where that was considered a great prestigious lifestyle, and cultures /bad habits can be hard to break if they are portrayed as cool.

@NahImSerious@MadelineBorgasanoMarino Does anyone remember the incident in Chicago where a City Bus was empty (had no passengers on board) and heading back to the City Garage, when it was involved in a motor vehicle accident. The City Bus, that was empty, suddenly had many, many people in all colors of the rainbow, stating that they were injured seriously while riding on that very bus during the time of the accident.........did you ever read THOSE lawsuits? It is a truth, that ANYONE may sue ANYONE at any time, for any reason. That is called a 'Lawsuit'. Just because folks sue other folks, does not mean that their 'reasons' are legitimate. Many Lawsuits are thrown out of Courts and clog up our Judicial System so that other, more important business that is on the agenda may be taken care of.

Further, we ALL agree when the economy is down and the number of jobs is down, we are quick to blame the President or the Congress or the House; 'We, The People' are the ones that vote for every person who is in our local and national government. It was stated that in our last Presidential Election, only 1/3 of the registered voters turned out to vote. We are a Democratic Nation and we enjoy all of the Freedoms that go along with it. Instead of 'jumping into the fray' and stating truths, but without example, people tend to forget what the meaning of FREEDOM is. Instead, each 'group' is ready to 'hate' others and spew words that offend. Each and every group is guilty of using the incorrect word for one group or the other.

Let us all 'calm down' and enjoy what the word FREEDOM means. Now, as an example, which would be worse, to be called 'a rude word' or to lose our Freedom? No one is 'entitled' to anything except fair pay for hard work, and, we are Free, many people are not as fortunate as those of us who live in America.

Now, I shall sit back and wait for someone to 'bash me' for what I have written. Like I said, anyone can sue anyone, or start an argument, or wish to simply 'cause a "big stink" just because they can. Everything is possible in a Country with a Democratic way of governing in a land that is Free, no matter what your color is or what status you attain in life, we are all Free. Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Own and Bear Arms, in 'Our Bill of Rights'. While you are reading it, read the Constitution of The United States.

Oh, yes, and regarding Paula, discrimination works both ways. I believe that it is believable that someone or many are discriminating against Paula for saying the 'N' word. Why have we not sued 'EVERYONE' who has ever thought about, or actually used the 'N' word? Think about it.

@NahImSerious@MadelineBorgasanoMarino , Paula was hardly ever at the restaurant, and the one who is suing said she never heard Paula say the N word or any derogatory term. She wrote a letter lauding Paula and her brother and then a few months later, when she couldn't get a lot of money out of them, her lawyer said he was going to drag Paula through the dirt with accusations if she didn't pay up. Paula Deen did nothing wrong, except admit she used the N-word when a gun was held to her head during a robbery years ago. As for that wedding party, she only said she liked the way the men dressed at another party she attended. Professional black men dressed elegantly. She never said she wanted Blacks dressed like slaves.